1And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.”

2Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.

3And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

4For they are2:4 Lit. stiff-faced and hard-hearted sonsimpudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’

5As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

7You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

8But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

9Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.

10Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.